What’s so Special About Green Tea?

Green tea is much more than just a refreshing beverage tea; it provides many proven health benefits as well. The Chinese and Japanese have enjoyed green tea’s healing qualities for thousands of years but it hasn’t been until recently that scientific research has proven the health benefits of drinking green tea.

All teas (green, black, and oolong) are harvested from the same plant (Camellia sinensis). The method of processing creates the different types. Green tea contains the highest content of various antioxidant compounds (polyphenols) that have been proven as beneficial in fighting certain cancers, to help lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, to help prevent food allergies, to reduce the risk of flu and infections, and to reduce the effects of aging. Vitamins C and E and beta carotene are also prevalent in green tea. Enough fluoride is found in green tea to help reduce plaque formation and bacterial infections in the mouth. The caffeine content found in green tea is about a quarter to an eighth that of coffee and less then a can of cola but varies with the brewing time.

Green teas are as varied and unique as wines. Their uniqueness depends upon the growing region, the season’s weather, time of harvesting and type of processing. Many varieties are available in multiple grades. Some exotic teas are picked only one day a year! The majority of green teas come from Japan, China or India. Processing of the tea varies between the different regions so this is just a basic overview. The finest teas come from the most aromatic, young, top two leaves and the unopened leaf bud of the plant. After picking, the green leaves are spread out in the hot air to wither. Once they are soft, they are traditionally pan-fried in woks. In Japan, they may be steamed. This prevents the leaves from oxidizing (fermenting) as occurs in black tea. The leaves are then rolled to give them durability, their characteristic shapes: twisted, curly or balled, and as a means to regulate the release of natural substances and flavor when steeped. The final step dries the leaves by firing. This stabilizes the natural fragrances and flavors and preserves the green color. The objective of processing the tea leaves into green tea is to preserve the healthy, natural and active substances.

Sometimes flowers are placed on the tea leaves during the drying process to impart a gentle floral flavor to the tea, such as the popular jasmine green tea.

There are hundreds of different green teas, most of which never reach the U.S. Some of the more common green teas are:

• Gyokuro – the finest green tea.
• Bancha – the “everyday” green tea of Japan. This tea is made from low-grade leaves, imparting a slightly astringent taste.
• Genmaicha – a tea made from a combination of usually bancha and roasted brown rice. Some of the rice pops during the roasting process like popcorn. This is a light tea with a slightly nutty flavor.
• Sencha – a delicate, sweeter, Japanese green tea with needlelike leaves available in many grades.
• Kukicha – a mild Japanese tea made from the twigs or stems of the tea bush.
• Gunpowder – a stronger Chinese tea rolled into tight pellets originally to preserve freshness during the long trip from China to Europe.
• Dragonwell – a favorite Chinese tea with flat, long leaves.

Some of the more exotic and expensive green teas have such interesting names as: White Monkey Paw, Dragon Pearls, Lucky Dragon, Jasmine Dragon Tears and Bird Nest.

So, for those of you who have tried green tea and just don’t care for the taste, give it a second chance. Green tea requires a quicker brewing time from most teas to keep it from becoming bitter tasting. Use approximately one teaspoon of tea per cup of water. Bring your water to just under a boil or boil and let sit for 5 minutes before pouring over the tea. Green tea only needs a brewing time of one to two minutes before removing the tea leaves from your cup or pot. Adjust the quantity of tea or length of brewing to suit your taste. The used tea leaves can actually be reused for a second cup of tea, just brew about 20 seconds longer. Green tea can also be brewed with other herbs such as ginger, peppermint, lemon balm or jasmine flowers to change the flavor yet still reap the health benefits.

Take a few minutes, brew up a cup of this ancient healing tea and contemplate life while your body enjoys the gentle health benefits.

A wonderful place to find organic green teas is Mountain Rose Herbs.

About the Author

My life’s journey is to develop a better understanding of who I am. Growth flourishes through sharing, listening, observing and experiencing. In sharing, I hope to be a catalyst to helping others discover pieces of who they are, to notice the beauty in the small things, to be thankful for the challenges and lessons which allow for their personal growth, and to always be true to themself; all which promote a state of well-being, health and wholeness. I am also a Reiki Master/Teacher and Practitioner. Visit my blog at www.wholelivingtoday.com/blog

Green Ray Introduces Commercial Grade, Full Spectrum, LED Lamps

RT600C Super-fast Water-resistant Digital Pocket Thermometer $19.00 We’ve added another version of our popular RT600 series. The RT600C from ThermoWorks offers a Super-Fast, reduced-tip probe for 5- to 6-second readings. The sealed body of the thermometer features rubberized switch panels, a robust LCD window, and it withstands temperatures to 190°F so you can record peak temperatures in commercial dishwashers using the Min/Max feature. There are many digital poc…

John Boos Mystery Oil Butcher Block Oil $6.95 The Perfect Remedy For Your Thirsty Board Wood gets “thirsty” — it gets dry — drying can lead to cracking and deterioration — cutting boards and butcher block surfaces are no exception — protect your investment with regular applications of either Boos Board Cream or Boos Mystery Oil. Frequency of application will depend upon how often you use your board and how you clean it — for example,…

Omega J8003 Nutrition Center Single-Gear Commercial Masticating Juicer, White $200.00 Omega Nutrition Center Model 8003 – White Wheatgrass, Fruit, Vegetable Juicer and more! Features & SpecificationsThe Omega 8003 Nutrition Center Juicer is quick, efficient and affordable compared to most! The Omega Juicer Model 8003 provides an easy solution for multi-purpose functions not just limited to juicing. It is easy to clean, carries a lengthy 10-Year Warranty and comes in at a decent …

sweet summertime / green grass 45 rpm single …

USDA Grade Human $3.85 …

If Only I Had a Green Nose [VHS] $6.24 From the heart of author Max Lucado, once again we’re off on a new adventure into the wonderful world of Wemmicksville. Our faithful Wemmick, Punchinello, along with his close Wemmick friends, Lucinda and Twiggy discover an important lesson: that changing their appearance to fit in is like chasing the wind. Willy Withit has just rolled into town, and he’s got a message for any Wemmick who wants to…

Cyalume SnapLight Industrial Grade Chemical Light Sticks, Green, 6 Long, 12 Hour Duration (Pack of 10) $9.35 The Cyalume SnapLight is an industrial grade chemical light stick measuring 6″ long, for providing instant 360 degree illumination that can be seen up to a mile away for up to 12 hours in optimal conditions. The SnapLight is waterproof, non-toxic, and non-flammable. To activate the light stick, bend, snap and shake the tube. The light stick has a hook and gate top, for hanging or attaching the lig…

Streamlight 66118 Stylus Pro Black LED Pen Flashlight with Holster $16.83 Shine some light in those small, hard to reach places with the Streamlight StylusPro LED Penlight. This handy little light is constructed with corrosion resistant aircraft grade aluminum alloy. Its shockproof, waterproof, and impact resistant to withstand everyday wear and tear. The StylusPro features a powerful white LED bulb with a burn time of 7.5 hours. It includes an unbreakable pocket clip a…

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools F01T Tactical Tomahawk, Black $24.75 The original Vietnam Tomahawk, SOG’s F01T-N Tactical Tomahawk is the latest incarnation of one of history’s most unusual weapons. This versatile piece of equipment handles a number of tasks including excavation, operations breaching, obstacle removal, and extraction, which makes the F01T-N an ideal tool for military and service personnel..caption {font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif…

Family Guy, Vol. 7 $15.77 The final four episodes from the sixth season and nine episodes from the seventh season–including “Back in the Woods,” “Long John Peter,” “I Dream of Jesus,” “Baby Not on Board,” “The Man with Two Brians,” and “The Juice Is Loose!”–are featured in this three-disc set. 5 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; audio commentary; deleted sce…

---

Related Blogs

• Discover the History and Health Benefits Of Green Tea – 5061th Edition
  
• The Health Benefits Obtained Of Consuming Green Tea
• Why is Wu Yi Tea So Special?
• Green Tea Is Green! – Best of Mother Earth